Widodo delivers dramatic motorcycle video for Asian Games opening day

Indonesian President Joko Widodo created a buzz on social media after a video showed him traveling to the opening ceremony of the 18th Asian Games on August 19 in Jakarta on a big motorcycle rather than his usual motorcade – and performing spectacular stuntsas.

After his motorcade is held up by Jakarta’s notorious traffic jams, the tongue-in-cheek video showed a formally dressed Widodo hopping onto a motorbike of his security team and put on a black helmet. Apparently a stunt river dressed like Widodo on the bike later jumped a ramp, maneuvered his way between cars and narrow alleyways and even did a stoppie as he almost crashed into a three-wheeled motor vehicle.

When finally arriving on time at the stadium, the president himself drove to the stage and waved to the audience.

Many people praised Widodo for making such an entrance to the stadium, calling him “cool” and “awesome” and likened him to Tom Cruise. Some pointed out the obvious that he could not do all the stunts himself and “likely” had a stuntman do some of the tricks for him. Others attacked the stunt and accused it of being political of some sort.

By August 20, the video of the president’s dash across the city had more than 800,000 views on its YouTube posting.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo created a buzz on social media after a video showed him traveling to the opening ceremony of the 18th Asian Games on August 19 in Jakarta on a big motorcycle rather than his usual motorcade – and performing spectacular stuntsas.

After his motorcade is held up by Jakarta’s notorious traffic jams, the tongue-in-cheek video showed a formally dressed Widodo hopping onto a motorbike of his security team and put on a black helmet. Apparently a stunt river dressed like Widodo on the bike later jumped a ramp, maneuvered his way between cars and narrow alleyways and even did a stoppie as he almost crashed into a three-wheeled motor vehicle.

When finally arriving on time at the stadium, the president himself drove to the stage and waved to the audience.

Many people praised Widodo for making such an entrance to the stadium, calling him “cool” and “awesome” and likened him to Tom Cruise. Some pointed out the obvious that he could not do all the stunts himself and “likely” had a stuntman do some of the tricks for him. Others attacked the stunt and accused it of being political of some sort.

By August 20, the video of the president’s dash across the city had more than 800,000 views on its YouTube posting.